Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Uzbek Matryoshka

Uzbek Matryoshka

Hello, sorry it has been so long since I've posted. This spring I caught the gardening bug and planted new shrubs and flowers around our house. Now it is too hot for gardening so I'm back to the drawing board as it were.


Above is my Uzbek Matryoshka. Prints of her in various sizes and a downloadable coloring sheet are now available in my shop. While doing research for this illustration I came across many wonderful images on the web and made a board of them here


As I've said before, my Matryoshka illustrations are original designs, my artistic interpretation, inspired by various cultures. They share common design elements to both unify the collection and to illustrate that all cultures, all peoples, have much in common. The design elements that reoccur are my own stylized drawings of a plum blossom, leaves, and swirls, etc. This week while visiting the Wake Forest University Museum of Anthropology's "Chinese Ceramics from the Changsha Kilns" exhibit I saw a piece of pottery with a plum blossom design. The tag reads, "The plum blossom (mei) is a symbol of beauty, virginity, courage and hope." I did not know the meaning of the symbol but I am pleased with it and find it quite fitting. :)


I am in the process of sketching my next culture / nationality a Kazakh Matryoshka. I hope to complete it in the next week or so. 


Peace,
Amy
AmyPerrotti.etsy.com